Nigel Wilson facts for kids

Nigel Edward Wilson (born January 12, 1970) is a former professional baseball player from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. He played as an Outfielder. Nigel played for a few teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. He also had a very successful career playing baseball in Japan. He spent six seasons there with the Nippon Ham Fighters and Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. Today, Nigel owns a sports training center in Ajax, Ontario.

Nigel Wilson's Baseball Journey

Starting Out in Baseball

Nigel Wilson began his baseball career in 1988. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a young player. He worked his way up through their minor league teams.

In 1992, the Florida Marlins picked him in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft. This was a special draft where new teams choose players from other teams. Nigel was the second player chosen overall.

Playing in Major League Baseball

Nigel played in 22 games in Major League Baseball. He played for the Marlins in 1993, the Cincinnati Reds in 1995, and the Cleveland Indians in 1996. He got his first MLB hit during his time with the Indians. His MLB career ended shortly after that.

Becoming a Star in Japan

After his time in MLB, Nigel moved to Japan in 1997. He joined the Nippon Ham Fighters team. This is where he became a big star.

Amazing Home Run Record

On June 21, 1997, Nigel did something amazing. He hit a home run in four straight times at bat! This was a very rare achievement. Only one other player in Japanese baseball history had done it before him. He finished that season leading the league with 37 home runs.

Awards and Comebacks

In 1998, Nigel played even better. He led the league with 33 home runs and 128 RBIs. He won the Best Nine Award for his great performance. This award goes to the best players at each position.

He faced a knee injury in 1999 and played only a few games. However, his team believed in him. He came back strong in 2000. That year, he hit 37 home runs and had 89 RBIs. He won his second Best Nine Award.

Finishing His Playing Career

Nigel had another injury in 2001. He left the Nippon Ham Fighters after playing only 34 games. The next year, he joined the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes. However, he couldn't play as well as he had before. He left Japan at the end of 2002. He then signed a contract with the New York Yankees minor league team. But he did not make it back to the Major Leagues.

Nigel Wilson is remembered as one of the best non-Japanese players to ever play for the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Life After Baseball

Nigel Wilson's father was a cricket player from Trinidad and Tobago.

Nigel lives in Ajax, Ontario with his wife, Natalie, and their three children: Morgan, Paris, and Quinton. He also has an older daughter, LaToya Forever, who is a well-known YouTube personality.

Since 2008, Nigel has owned and run a sports training center. It is called Competitive Edge. He has also coached many successful college baseball players.